Goose and Saki’s report wasn't over yet.
"Also, we found this."
Goose presented a deep yellow, columnar crystal.
"He says it's topaz."
"Hehe, this island seems to be a literal treasure trove of gemstones. If collectors ever found out, they’d probably descend upon this place in droves," Saki remarked with a half-joke.
Jin offered a serious response. "Perhaps, but it’s not exactly a place they can just visit on a whim."
"Well, that’s true."
Cutting in, Goose showed them the next mineral they had discovered. "Finally, there’s this."
It was a white, solid mass.
"It’s incredibly soft. You can even scratch it with a fingernail." Goose pointed to several visible marks where he had tested it.
"Talc... That’s a great find!" Jin’s eyes sparkled.
For some reason, talc hadn't been found in any of the known mines until now.
"Hmm? What do you use such a soft mineral for?"
"For 'No-Sweat.'"
"'No-Sweat'?"
'No-Sweat' was what the Orphanage Director used to call it back at the home; it was apparently a brand name. Generally, it was known as talcum powder. Terms like baby powder, prickly heat powder, and tenkafun all referred to the same thing. It was made by taking talc—the mineral—and grinding it into a fine powder, then adding starch, boric acid, and fragrances.
"You turn it into a powder and apply it to a baby’s bottom where they get heat rash. Oh, and it’s great for adults too—under the arms or around the collar."
"Hoh... That’s the first I’ve heard of such a thing. Is that what they do where you’re from, Jin? In Kaina Village, we sometimes use a powder made by grating Aremame roots and soaking them in water," Martha said, offering the local alternative after hearing Jin’s explanation.
"Aremame, you say? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that," Jin replied, tilting his head at the unfamiliar name.
"Well, of course you haven't. Ever since you built those hot springs, no one’s had to worry about heat rash anymore."
"Ah, I see."
Kaina Village was already at a high altitude with low humidity, making heat rash rare. On top of that, the hot springs allowed everyone to keep their skin clean, causing skin conditions like heat rash to practically vanish. Furthermore, with a healer like Sally available, the health of both adults and children was well-tended.
"But it would still be a good idea to make some."
"Yes, please! Jin, it’s so hot and sticky where I live. I’d be so grateful to have something like that," Marcia added enthusiastically. Saki and Marcia were both clearly in favor of the idea.
"Understood. I’ll issue instructions to mine the talc later. I’d also like to collect some of those Aremame roots."
In truth, this Aremame was what was known as 'kudzu' in modern Japan. The starch extracted from the roots became kudzu powder, a primary ingredient for high-end Japanese sweets. It could be turned into a highly transparent, jelly-like treat; unlike gelatin or agar, its firmness and elasticity could be fine-tuned simply by adjusting the water. Additionally, kudzu starch gruel was known to be effective for treating colds.
It would be a little while longer before new delicacies made from Aremame powder would be born in this world.
"If all goes well, it might become a new local specialty."
"Oh, if it’s Aremame you’re looking for, it seems there’s plenty growing around Toka Village as well. They say it's a famine-relief plant," Lishia noted.
"That’s excellent. It would be a big help if you could have some dug up when we return."
"Yes, I’ll see to it," Lishia replied. With that, Toka Village had gained yet another potential export.
"One more thing. It's not a mineral, but I found this plant."
Goose showed them a cluster of long, yellow fruits.
"...Bananas?"
It appeared to be a wild banana.
"Do you call this a 'banana,' Jin?"
"Yeah. There was a very similar fruit in the world I came from."
"I see. Well, look at this. It’s a bit unusual."
When they peeled it, they found large seeds inside.
"Those are huge. The bananas I knew didn’t have any seeds at all."
The bananas commonly eaten on modern Earth were the result of extensive selective breeding. The original wild species reportedly had smaller fruit and were filled with large seeds. A seedless mutation had eventually occurred, and those were the plants that humans had propagated through cuttings to create the modern fruit.
"I see. If we look around, we might find a seedless variety here, too!"
That became another task for the future. If such a plant were found, it would mean one more delicious fruit for their table.
With that, Goose and the others concluded their report. After chatting idly for a while longer, everyone retired to their respective rooms.
"This is turning out to be a very fruitful trip in many ways."
"Mm."
That night, in their bedroom aboard the Azuma, Jin and Elsa were talking.
"But Elsa, are you really okay with this?"
"What do you mean?" Elsa looked puzzled, not quite catching the intent behind his question.
"Well, I mean, I planned and carried out this honeymoon mostly based on my own interests. I was worried that maybe you would have preferred a different kind of trip..."
At his words, Elsa smiled and shook her head.
"No, not at all. I truly love this trip you planned, Jin-nii. I could never have thought of something so wonderful myself."
There was no hint of a lie in Elsa’s eyes. Jin felt a bit sheepish at her sincerity. To hide his embarrassment, he dimmed the lights.
"Reiko, what time is it?"
"It is just past 9:00 PM, Father."
"I see. We're going to sleep now. I’m leaving the watch to you."
"Yes, please leave it to me."
Reiko gave a bow and exited the bedroom, taking up an immobile guard stance in front of the door. She used her force generator to lock her body in place; she wouldn't budge an inch even if the ship capsized. That said, the waves were calm that night, and the vessel barely swayed.
"...It feels like a dream."
In a room aboard the Edo, Lishia was gazing out the window. The sky was a tapestry of stars, and the gentle sound of the surf drifted through the air.
"Until just a short while ago, I never even imagined a world like this existed."
She had known from the moment they met that Jin was an extraordinary magi craftsman, but she hadn't realized he was someone capable of changing the very world.
"But I’m just happy to have a place among them."
Lishia renewed her resolve. Though she felt she had no particular talents of her own, she vowed to do her absolute best in whatever way she could contribute.